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The Holy Synod of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church in America
respects and upholds the fundamental principle that our jurisdiction will not refuse the Sacraments to Greek Catholics who for just cause, spiritual necessity and/or when genuine
spiritual advantage suggests it, follow their individual consciences in invoking the respective Codes of Canon
Law as specified in the following Canons of the CODE OF CANONS OF THE EASTERN CHURCHES as approved by the Vatican and which state:
Canon 670 - 1 For a just cause
Catholics can attend the liturgical worship of other Christians and
take part in the same, observing those things which, by reason of the
degree of communion with the Catholic Church, are established by the
eparchial bishop or by a superior authority.
Canon 670 - 2 If non-Catholic
Christians lack a place in which divine worship can be celebrated with
dignity, the eparchial bishop can grant the use of a Catholic building
or cemetary or church according to the norm of particular law of his
own Church sui iuris.
Canon 671 - 2 If necessity requires
it or genuine spiritual advantage suggests it and provided that the
danger of error or indifferentism is avoided, it is permitted for
Catholic Christian faithful, for whom it is physically or morally
impossible to approach a Catholic minister, to receive the sacraments
of penance, the Eucharist and anointing of the sick from non-Catholic
ministers, in whose Churches these sacraments are valid.
Also, with respect to the Balamad Statement, the Ukrainian
Orthodox Church in America respects the consciences of the faithful of
other Orthodox jurisdictions and will not refuse the sacraments to any
Orthodox Christian who approaches us for the reception of any of the
Sacraments.
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